TORONTO POLICE SEIZE “SMS BLASTERS” IN FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND CYBERCRIME CASE
Toronto Police have arrested three men and seized multiple “SMS blasters,” a cybercrime tool never before seen in Canada.
Authorities say the devices mimic legitimate cell towers, tricking nearby phones into connecting.
Once connected, victims receive fraudulent text messages posing as trusted organizations, a tactic known as “smishing,” designed to steal personal data.
Police believe tens of thousands of devices connected to the blasters over several months, with more than 13 million network disruptions recorded.
These disruptions temporarily blocked phones from accessing legitimate networks, raising concerns about interference with emergency services.
Investigators say the devices were mobile and operated out of vehicles, allowing suspects to target multiple locations across the city.
Three individuals, Dafeng Lin (27), Junmin Shi (25), and Weitong Hu (21), face a combined 44 charges, including fraud, personation, unauthorized access to computer systems, and mischief endangering life.
Toronto Police have arrested three men and seized multiple “SMS blasters,” a cybercrime tool never before seen in Canada.
Authorities say the devices mimic legitimate cell towers, tricking nearby phones into connecting.
Once connected, victims receive fraudulent text messages posing as trusted organizations, a tactic known as “smishing,” designed to steal personal data.
Police believe tens of thousands of devices connected to the blasters over several months, with more than 13 million network disruptions recorded.
These disruptions temporarily blocked phones from accessing legitimate networks, raising concerns about interference with emergency services.
Investigators say the devices were mobile and operated out of vehicles, allowing suspects to target multiple locations across the city.
Three individuals, Dafeng Lin (27), Junmin Shi (25), and Weitong Hu (21), face a combined 44 charges, including fraud, personation, unauthorized access to computer systems, and mischief endangering life.
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